Wife Kills Spouse with Axe Blows to Groin

Reuters ^ | November 15, 2002

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A Cambodian woman who murdered her husband by axing him repeatedly in the groin before running off with her son-in-law has been sentenced to 15 years in jail, officials said Friday.

But 35-year-old Chhoeun Sovann, from Kompong Thom province 100 km (60 miles) northeast of Phnom Penh, is not yet behind bars.

Six years after the murder, prosecutors say they cannot find her. The verdict was handed down in absentia.

In a case shocking even by Cambodian standards, Chhoeun Sovann set about battering her husband to death with the blunt end of an axe, the blows falling mainly on his groin.

"She fell in love with her son-in-law, which was against her husband's wishes. Finally, she had to kill her husband so she could escape with her lover," female presiding judge Sim Samoeu told Reuters.

"It is totally unacceptable in Cambodia that a wife should kill her husband by smashing his genitals," the judge said. "After hours of deliberation, I decided to punish her with 15 years in jail."

She also awarded the victim's family compensation of two million riels ($500) -- nearly double the average Cambodian annual wage.

Under Cambodia's notoriously erratic and ineffective judicial system, trials in absentia are relatively common as are cases of convicted criminals enjoying their freedom for years after receiving hefty jail sentences.

[Willie Green]

The son-in-law has GOT to be nutz to go anywhere near this lunatic woman.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Ow.

[nevergore]

I saw the title and my legs automatically crossed while reading......

Ouch!

Lizze Borden Cambodian style!

NeverGore

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The son-in-law has GOT to be nutz

Well, so far.

[Texaggie79]

um..........ouch

[Libloather]

"It is totally unacceptable in Cambodia that a wife should kill her husband by smashing his genitals," the judge said.

Where is it acceptable?

[Slicksadick]

"It is totally unacceptable in Cambodia that a wife should kill her husband by smashing his genitals," the judge said. "After hours of deliberation, I decided to punish her with 15 years in jail."

I guess a gun or punji stick is probation huh?

[Texaggie79]

I know a few NAGS that would like to make it acceptable here.

[Junior]

"It is totally unacceptable in Cambodia that a wife should kill her husband by smashing his genitals," the judge said.

Other methods of killing may be acceptable.

[Dog]

Ouch!

[Dog Gone]

So, what did the daughter have to say about all this? Her husband ran off with her mother.

[Willie Green]

Lizze Borden Cambodian style!

I'm not entirely certain, but I think Lizzie at least had the good sense to use the sharp side of the axe.

[MadIvan]

She fell in love with her son-in-law, which was against her husband's wishes

Am I so old-fashioned to be alone in thinking that this statement should go without saying?

Regards, Ivan

[LibWhacker]

Sounds like something the Khmer Rouge taught her.

[Billthedrill]

"It is totally unacceptable in Cambodia that a wife should kill her husband by smashing his genitals," the judge said.

Well, of course it is. Anywhere else it would OK, and in Cambodia it'd be acceptible if she just hit him on the head, but smashing the genitals in Cambodia is right out!

[Plutarch]

Chhoeen Sovann took an ax
And gave her husband forty whacks.
And when she saw what she had done,
She ran off with her husband's son.

[mystery-ak]

LOL.....I thought that was the funniest line in the whole story.

[Cobra64]

"Wife Kills Spouse with Axe Blows to Groin"

Jeeze. I read this and thought Bill and Hill were back together in... wherever the hell they live these days.

[End The Hypocrisy]

>>>Am I so old-fashioned to be alone in thinking that this statement should go without saying?<<<

At least in India, arranged marriages are apparently common. And I imagine that many husbands (and independently wealthy wives) there (if not in Cambodia) would LOVE it if their spouse saw fit to run off with someone else. Heck, many married couples in the USA have at least one spouse feeling the same way. Some couples live together merely because they don't want to give up the house and live in an apartment.

[DCPatriot]

My girlfriend tried that on me.

Poor axe. ;^)